Clutch



Dec. 27, 1927.

R. W. WEIR CLUTCH Filed June 15, 1923 Patented Dec. 27, 1927.

BGY W. WEIR, OF HAMMOND, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR, BY

1,653,938 TENT OFFICE.

mm ASSIGNMENTS; TO THE .MARVEL COMPANY, or naiuiuoun, iNniana, A oonrona'rrou or INDIANA CLUTCH.

Application filed June 15,

The present invention is related to clutching devices for establishing and breakingthe driving relation between driving and driven elements. While of general application its primary utility is directed to suction cleaners of the non-electric type. r 1

In suction cleaners of the character, re ferred to the suction fan usually is actuated y theaxle of the traction wheels of the machine. On the forward movement of the machine a clutch included in the gear con nections between the axle and the fan operates to transmit motion from such axle to the fan. When movement of the machine is reversed this drivin relation is interru ted and the clutch permits the fan to continue operating under the momentum induced by the forward movement of the machine.

Roller ratchet clutches usually are employed in the above-described cleaners. As ordinarily constructed, the clutches are sluggish in action, and. do not respond as speedily as isdesirable, either when estabishing the driving connection between the driving and driven elements, or when breaking such connection. Furthermore, the surfaces with which the ratchet rollers co-operate are of extended area so thatthe action of the same on the ratchet rollers is not suf ficiently positive to afford the requisite binding connection therewith when the driving relation is established, 1101' to release these rollers when the driving-relation is broken.

The-present invention aimsto provide a clutch which will overcome the objectionable characteristics mentioned, and by which the driving relation between the driving and driven elements may be established and broken with the greatest expedition, as well asin the most positive and eifective man'- ner, thus permittlng the cleaner to be'operated with greater ease and freedom of movement, and without imposing on the operation of the fan the dragging action incidental to the sluggish release of the clutch.-

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as the nature of the improvements is better understood, the

invention consisting substantially in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

The form of the invention'herein d e 1923. Serial No. 645,503.

lineated marks a preferred embodiment thereof and exemplifies a practical adaptation ofthe invention, but the latter is susceptible of variation in such application. The present disclosure, therefore, is to be considered from an illustrative standpoint and without imposing restriction or limita tion OI1'SLlCll embodiment of the invention as may be required to meet the practical conditions under which the invention is utilized.

In the drawings, a

Fig. 1 is aside elevation of a suction cleaner of the non-electric type with which the present invention is associated;

Fig. 2 is a. vertical sectional view through the gear housing thereof and illustrating in elevation the clutch of the invention;

Fig. 3 is a similar View on the line 3.-3, Fig. 2; and I Fig. 4 isan enlarged detail elevation of the driving element of the clutch.

Referring in detail to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 10 designates the fan casing of a suction cleaner of the non-elem l tric type. Associated with th1s casing is a suction nozzle 11 through which the dustladen air is drawn into the casing 10. The casinglO is supported by traction wheels 12, one only of which is seen, and said wheels are mounted on an axle 13 andfixed thereto in such manner that on the rotation of the wheels 12 the axle 13 also will be rotated.

At the under side of the top ofthe suction nozzle 11 is a depending gear housing 14, and through sa d housing the axle 13 extends, asclearly illustrated in Fig. 3. This honsing la is closed at its under side bya detachable bottom 15. Loosely mounted on the axle 13 withinthehousing' 14 is a bevel gear 16, said gear meshing with abevel pin ion 17 forming part of aspur gear 18 rotatably mounted on a stubshaft 19. The gear 18 also meshes with a spur pinion 20 carried by a fan shaft 21, and to said shaft 21 a fan. disposed within the casing 10,is con nected. A spacing collar 22 is fitted to the axle 13 and arranged in a portion of the spacebctween the bevel pinion 16 and one of the s des of the housing 14: in order to maintain the bevel pinion 16 in mesh withthe pinion 17 through the intermediary of a hereinafter described driving element'29 on the axle;

The parts above described are found in one of the types of non-electric suction clmuiers cmnniercially designated as; The Marvel cleaner, and now generally found on thennarket. It with this, particular type ot' cleaner that the present invention inoreespecially has to do. In this particular cleaner provision is made so that on the forwardmovement of the machine the tan w thin the casing 10 isLpos-ititel y rrlitated; while on the reversemovement ot the IDS} chiuinoi-When it i s drawn baeinvardl by the operator til'u ydriving connection between the M and the tan interrin ited, the tart coiitinuiitg to rotat nlet then'ioinenlunr which it receiles on the 'i -wam morei'nent o l" the'n'iachine. To the end there is a sociated with tlie*lierel1 "1r 16 the driven elehient 2:3 oi the clutch which is eniployed torestablishingand hit-viking the (hiring This includes a pee eonnectlon retina-ed to. ripheral flange extend ng laterally oi the gear 16 and Within which fixedly posi tioned a washer EZ L'in which is formed a plu rality o't tapering tangential slots; .25 which radiate ironra central opening: 26 1 and have greater rac al din'iensiohn just hackfro n their ends thariat their ends; Theseislcrt ie. therefore, occuiiy aneccentric relation to the opening 26. Within each of the slots 525 is located a ratchet roller 27 against which preeses one end o 't acoil spring 28, the other end of the coil spring being seated against the outermost end of the slot 25. Each of the springs thus normally urges its ratchet roller towzirhthe enlarged end of the slot 25occupied ereiiiyand yieldingly holdsthe sauje in such end. a a 1 Associated;witl'r lhe driven element 2 is a. driving element .29. This constituted by a oiiicularkl isk which is iierii'orated to re joinder ot a series of narrow tangential plane surfaces 33 which constitute the peripheral face of the hub 30. These surfaces are of relativelj small area so as to afford :r multiplicity of the ridges "39, and said ridges are desigrnerlto contact with the several roller ratchets 27 and bite into the same in order to wedge the ratchets into tlie iuner ends of the slots 25 to establish the locking relation of the driven element; 23 to the driving elen'ient 29. Becauseol the fact that there is a a multiplicity of these engaging ridges, the binding action of the same agzeasr the roller ratehets 27 is most expenceaeee ditious in tact instantaneous; and as soon as the niachineis pushed ftfrl wfilft'lly the driving member 29 iinniediately becomes locked into engagement with. thedriven element 23 ol the clutch. "When theniachineis moved forwardly, the driving"iiieinllier :29 will rotate in the direction indicated by the curved arrow thereon, and when the machine moved rearwardly; the ll'lel'llbtfl 29 will rotate in the opposite direction. lVhen the member $29 is rotatiiigin the direction ol" the lll'l lfl fl the driveneleinent 24- will be caused to rotate in ii that direction also as indicated lay the curved arrow thereon, title to engagement of the ridges 352 on the driving element iritlr the rollers 27 pocketed in the inner ends of the slots 25, hutwhen the member 29 commences to rotate in the'opposite direction, the ridges 32 will more the rollers 27 tangentially ot the driving element away from the inner ends oi the slots 25, thus instantaneously breaking the connection between the driving and driven elements, and the driven element will be free to continue to rotate in the (lirection of the arrow thereon.

The provision of the multiplicity of enga ingridges 32 enables theclutch to operate with the highest degree of speed hoth in establishing the driving relation and breakingsuch relation between the driving and driven elements, and the clutch is thereby re lieved ot' sluggish actionin establishing the driving relation and breaking the sanie be tween the axle 13 and the suction fan Within the? casing 10.

I claim:

1. In a clutch, the conihiiuttion with a drivenelement, ot a driving element associated therewith, and ratcl'iet rollers interposed liiet reen the driving element and the driren eleinent, one of the latter elements being provided with a series of transverse ridges which bite into the rollers and the other being provided with pockets which are so arranged relative to the ridges as to preclude any sithstantial imivenieutof the rollere in a direction radially of the clutch and are shaped to ha r at their trout portions against thcTfi-ont and outer surfaces of. theirollors to hold the same abruptly agaiunt ium'emeut when hitten into by the ridges, whereby to connect the drivenand driving elements in any position with a rigid hut readil releasable interlock;

.2; In aclutch, the combination with corn centrically arranged outer driven and inner driving" elements, oi ratchet rollern iuterposed therebetween, and springs tending to uinove the rollers in one direction tangential- -l v of the axis ot the elements, the driving: element being provided with it series of transverse outwardly projecting ridges which hlte into the rollers throughout the lengths thereot, and the driven element being firovidedwith inwardly opening pockets lit) wi l

which are curved approximately 90 at their front portions to conform with the front and outer surfaces of the rollers to hold the same abruptly against movement when bitten into by the ridges, whereby to connect the driven and driving elements in any position with a rigid but readily releasable interlock.

3. In a clutch, the combination with a driven element, of a driving element associated therewith. and. circuinferentially spring pressed locking elements interposed between the driving element and the driven element, the driving element being provided with a series of closely-spaced transverselyextending engaging ridges which bite into the locking elements to bind the latter into engagement with the driven element. 7

4. In a clutch, the combination with a driven element, of adriving element associated therewith, and locking elements interposed between the driving element and the driven element, the driving element being provided with a plurality of plane surfaces and a series of engaging ridges at the points of joinder of said surfaces, said engaging ridges biting into the looking elements to bind the latter into engagement with the driven element.

5. In a clutch, the combination with a ciated therewith, said driving element being provided with a laterally extending hub, the driven element also being provided with a series of eccentrieallyarranged slots, and

ratchet rollers arranged in said slots in proximity to the laterally extending hub of the driving element, said hub being provided with a plurality ot'plane surfaces about its periphery and a series of engaging ridges at the points of joinder of, said surfaces, said engaging ridges biting into the ratchet rollers to bind the latter into engagement with the driven element.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ROY W'EIR. 

